What driver versions am I running?

I can never figure out which versions of drivers I am running. The numbers of HP's site do not correspond with that of device manager. Could someone give me a tip?

For example:

NVidia Nforce Chipset Driver
Latest on HP site is: Release Date: 2007-06-11, Version: 5.53 A

Yet, when I go into device manager, nothing seems to match:
My computer:

Nvidia Nforce System Management Controller
Provider: NVIDIA
Date 2/16/07
Version: 5.1.2600.131
Driver Details: nvsmu.sys v5.10.2600.0131

NVIDIA Nforce SATA Controller
Provider: NVIDIA Corporation
Date 4/19/07
Version: 5.1.2600.992
Driver Details: nvstor32.sys, Idecoi.sys, Idecoiins.dll, all of them v5.1.2600.992

And for the Broadcom Wireless LAN Driver for Microsoft Windows Vista on their site:
Release Date: 2007-10-31 Version: 6.00 E

My computer:
Broadcom 802.11b/g WLAN
Provider: Broadcom
Date 10/12/07
Version: 4.170.25.17
Driver Details: bcmihvsrv.dll, bcmihvui.dll, bcmwl6.sys, v4.170.25.17 and mcmwlcoi.dll v2007, 7, 12 ,0

Am I running the latest drivers or not? The numbers on their site, or even the dates, don't seem to correspond at all. So I'm never sure whether or not I'm running their drivers, or if mine have been overwritten by the Windows Update Drivers.

Is it ever a good idea, or even a better idea, to go with the Windows Update drivers? Or should we go with HP's always?

Thanks!

 

HP never keeps their website up to date with the latest drivers. If you want the latest drivers for all of your hardware, you'll have to go to the hardware manufacturers website, such as nvidia or broadcom, and download and install the latest drivers.

Here is a great site for the latest and greatest video card drivers for laptops:
http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/

 

Download GPU-z for detailed GPU info (google it)

What you posted is the chipset drivers

 

I have one of the latest graphics drivers already. I'm actually looking for the latest chipset. Where could I find those? What chipset does the dv9000 with 6150 GPU have? I think it is the nforce430, no?

Edit: Here, actually, this is the link to drivers I was thinking might work (aside from the display driver):

http://station-drivers.com/page/nvidia nforce c51.htm

Anyone tried?

 

Use the one at Nvidia's website...
http://www.nvidia.com/object/nforce_winvista32_15.01.html

This is not the latest however I am currently using this driver...
http://www.nvidia.com/object/winvista_32_9.64.html

This one doesnt officially mention support for the Go 430 but installs and works just fine on my system. Nvidia seems to have changed the numbering scheme, so dont worry about the version numbers just look at the release dates.

HP lists the version based on their internal release schedule, so dont follow HP's versioning since they just repackage Nvidia's drivers. The best way to tell would be through the Nvidia Control panel-->Advanced-->System information(note you will need to have Nvidia ntune software installed for this option to appear in the CP)

The broadcom driver you have should be from WU since I just downloaded that one from WU yesterday and it matches your driver version number. BTW< if you do want the latest and greatest laptopvideo2go does also have some info for the chipset, wlan and touchpad drivers as well(not as popular as the GPU drivers but they still do update it on the forums quite often).